Report reaching us reveal that landlords in Anambra State are quitting native doctors and allied workers from their properties in large numbers.
This development follows Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s signing of the Anambra Homeland Security Law, aimed at maintaining peace and order in the state.
The law has sent shockwaves among certain native doctors, who are now facing uncertainty about their livelihoods.
Some landlords, fearing repercussions from the government, have started issuing quit notices to native doctors and allied workers occupying their properties.
“We can’t afford to lose our properties,” said Mr. Okoye, a landlord in Awka. “If the government says they will demolish any property used for native doctoring like Okeite, we have to take them seriously.”
Soludo had earlier warned that any property used for illicit acts, including native doctoring of Oke-Ite, would be demolished.
The Anambra State government has also begun registering native doctors and herbalists to separate genuine practitioners from fake ones.
According to a government source, “We’re not against genuine native doctors, but we need to regulate their activities to ensure they’re not used as a cover for illicit acts.”
While some have expressed support for the government’s efforts, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on the livelihoods of those affected.
The Anambra Homeland Security Law has sent a clear message that the state government will no longer tolerate business as usual. Only time will tell if Governor Soludo’s efforts will succeed in ridding the state of illicit activities.
Traditional religion practitioners had earlier in the week protested the recent signing into law of the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, which advocates restrictions on native doctors who fortify kidnappers and other criminals with charms.
The group petitioned Governor Chukwuma Soludo over his recent pronouncement aimed at checkmating practitioners of African Traditional Religion (ATR).
They expressed deep concerns that the law targets ATR practitioners unfairly, violating their constitutional rights and Nigeria’s secular nature.
The petition highlighted that Nigeria is a secular state, as explicitly declared by the Constitution. The protesters emphasized the importance of freedom of religion, guaranteed by Section 38 (1) of the Constitution.
They accused the governor of selective regulation of religious practices, suggesting an intention to interfere with ATR practitioners while ignoring other religious groups.
This approach, they argued, contravenes the principles of equality and fairness enshrined in the Constitution.
Governor Soludo’s administration has introduced several measures to address security challenges in the state, including the establishment of “Agunechemba,” a new vigilante architecture, and the deployment of technology, including tracking systems and AI-powered surveillance cameras .
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